Stopping with a flat tire & linked brakes

[johnlt]

In general, I'm a fan of "partially" linked brakes i.e. foot brake rear only and hand brake linked but when I got a flat at 85 mph the other day, I would have preferred to have completely unlinked brakes. I knew it was a rear tire so I didn't want to use either of the brakes becasue I wanted no braking action on the flat tire including engine braking. My solution was to just clutch it and coast to a stop which worked fine because I was on an interstate with very little traffic. Is this the right procedure for stopping with a flat on a "partially linked" brake bike or should I have gone ahead and used the front brake even though it would have applied brakes to the rear?

[Fugu]

Given that you had the space to coast to a stop I'd say you did the right thing in that instance but I've never experienced a flat on a motorcycle (knock on wood).

 

Real interested to hear what people who have had a flat and had to stop have to say on this.

[Ken H.]

In general, I'm a fan of "partially" linked brakes i.e. foot brake rear only and hand brake linked but when I got a flat at 85 mph the other day, I would have preferred to have completely unlinked brakes. I knew it was a rear tire so I didn't want to use either of the brakes becasue I wanted no braking action on the flat tire including engine braking. My solution was to just clutch it and coast to a stop which worked fine because I was on an interstate with very little traffic. Is this the right procedure for stopping with a flat on a "partially linked" brake bike or should I have gone ahead and used the front brake even though it would have applied brakes to the rear?

There is another "Blowout" thread about this going on here somewhere...

 

I'd agree, coast it out if you can, but a very judicious use of the brakes, even if linked, shouldn't be catastrophic.

[LDHack]

I've had a number of rear flats over the years. On the RT, I can think of one at about 75 and two at 60. I use medium braking, and came to an immediate stop. I don't want to be rolling on the flat tire very long. If the bead broke loose, the bike would get really squirrly. I've had enough flats that I know that, "I think I'm getting a flat" feeling. The RT handles fairly well with a rear flat, considering the situation. Linked brakes and ABS have never been an issue for me.

 

The biggest issue with a flat presents itself in the manner that the kick stand is way too long with a rear flat, so it's totally useless. Getting off the bike is difficult because I usually have gear on my rear saddle, so I can't swing my leg off the bike. Getting the bike situated so the wheels are on the tar and the kick stand on the gravel presents interesting challenges.

[Huzband]

Why manufacturers insist on linked brakes is beyond me.

 

Either you know how to ride, & stop, or you don't.

 

Linked brakes don't help the in-experienced.

 

 

You don't specify whether the flat was front or rear.

 

Linked or not, stay off the the front.

 

Therefore, linked can hurt.

[memaus03]

I had a rear flat a number of years ago and was unforuntely in the position where I got it going into a corner. Boy was that scary. I did not have the fortune of being able to coast to a stop and was forced to apply brakes whilst heading off the road at the same time. Luckily the verge was grassy after the dirt strip and I had the fortune of a lesser speed on my side.

 

In your case I think you did the right thing but suppose we are sometimes dictated to by circumstances. Gentle brake application when you cannot coast should still be fine. It was for me.

[Les is more]

I knew it was a rear tire so I didn't want to use either of the brakes becasue I wanted no braking action on the flat tire including engine braking.

 

I think he might have mentioned something about it.

[motoguy128]

The most improtant thing wiht a flat rear tire is to avoid turning. In a straight line you have some traction. I got a flat once on a 600cc sportbike in stop and go traffic. I didn't realize it was flat until the traffic started to clear and I acclerate while changing lanes. At first I thought I hit a greasy spot as I nearly highsided the bike.

 

My second time, was at a trackday. At the end of the day, I was getting tired, got out of my rythem and turned in a little too late on a right to left ot right transiton at 90mph. I went off the inside of track. The curbing dented my rim and the rear tire went flat instantly, the front end went into a violent tankslapper and I rode it out accross the infield crossed bakc over the track and let the bike slow to a stop in the grass. I took a few breaths and limped it back to the pits. So when I hear about flat tires... I think people overreact. Just relax and treat it like your riding on a loose gravel road. If your uncomfortable on gravel, get a mountain bike and practice sliding it wround without taking you feet off the pedals. The steering inputs needed to control a bicycle and maintain balance are very similar to a motorcycle.

 

As easily as a good rider can use both brakes independently, a good rider can also ride with a locked up rear tire.

 

With ABS and partially linked brakes, I would go ahead and brake moderately with the front lever only steering very slowly for somewhere out of the flow of traffic while applying the hazards. Also at least light braking will alert drivers behind you that you have a problem (brake light come on). If the front went flat, I'd use only rear brakes and slow down as soon as possible. You can get a dangerous wobble from a flat front tire.

 

The rear brake and rear end on every bike I've owned has so little feel that i just assume have linked brakes so I don't have to even worry about the rear brake. But I prefer partially linked so I can still use ONLY the rear brake when needed. Having hte rear brake lever activate the front brakes is STUPID and encourages bad riding habits.

 

Also... I ride on the balls of my feet so my response time to the rear brake is much slower than my hand than to the front brake, so in a panic stop I WILL stop faster with linked brakes because I active the rear as well as the front.

 

WIth ABS I see no disadvantage to partially linked brakes becasue you cannot lock-up the rear before the front under hard braking and you automatically get a good balance of both with one lever.

 

Johnit - as a regular rider on gravel roads with a KLR and KLX250S... the flat shouldn't have been a big deal. Just pull in the clutch and use the front brake lever, the ABS will still work even with a flat tire, it doesn't know the difference.

[johnlt]

Just pull in the clutch and use the front brake lever, the ABS will still work even with a flat tire, it doesn't know the difference.

It wasn't the ABS aspect I was concerned about. I don't want ANY breaking action on the flat tire because it can break the bead loose from the rim and become much more difficult to handle. Without linked brakes, I'd use the front brake and would have no problem. In fact, with the weight transfer to the front, linked brakes may not be a problem anyway but just not sure.

[motoguy128]

If it matters, the ABS would kick in as soon as the bead broke loose on the tire and it started rotating on the rim. applying the brakes licghtly would definitely be key.

 

You have a good point. It would be really slick if the TPM was tied to the ABS system and disabled or redistributed the braking force away from the wheel that was showing low pressure to allow a safer stop. It should be possible with just some programming.

 

It also would be cool to tie the ESC with the braking system to change the front rear braking bias when a heavier rear load is detected or at least when a higher preload setting is selected. Sort of like EBD on passenger cars.

 

I guess the controls engineer in me would love to see these types of systems tied together.

[AviP]

It also would be cool to tie the ESC with the braking system to change the front rear braking bias when a heavier rear load is detected or at least when a higher preload setting is selected. Sort of like EBD on passenger cars.

 

I guess the controls engineer in me would love to see these types of systems tied together.

Or removed altogether like in my good old RT.